The Tampa Bay Rays are facing uncertainty regarding their home field for the 2025 season after Hurricane Milton devastated Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. Major League Baseball is hopeful that the franchise can find a temporary home near its fan base if repairs to “The Trop” cannot be completed in time. Commissioner Rob Manfred expressed on “The Varsity” podcast that the priority is to keep the team in the Tampa Bay area if possible.
Potential alternate home fields for the Rays include spring training sites of various MLB teams such as the Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, and New York Yankees, as well as Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports complex near Orlando. The Rays’ spring training complex in Port Charlotte is further away than these suggested options, so an adjustment of schedules may be necessary depending on where the team decides to play during the 2025 season.
The fiberglass dome at Tropicana Field was severely damaged by the hurricane’s winds, raising doubts about the possibility of the Rays playing home games there when the season begins next year. The City of St. Petersburg has hired firms to assess the damage and remove the remaining roofing of the stadium in order to move forward with necessary repairs. Tropicana Field has been the home of the Rays since 1998 and was constructed in 1990 to withstand winds up to 115 mph.
The hurricane’s destruction at Tropicana Field comes shortly after the approval of a $1.3 billion project to build a new ballpark for the Rays. The new stadium project, approved by the City of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County, is slated to be completed in time for the 2028 season, but the recent damage may lead to the urgency of finding a temporary home for the team for the 2025 season. The hope is that repairs to Tropicana Field can be made in a timely manner that allows the Rays to resume playing in their home city.
The decision about the Rays’ temporary home for the 2025 season will depend on the extent of the damage at Tropicana Field and the availability of suitable alternatives in the Tampa Bay area or nearby locations. MLB and the team are working to find a solution that keeps the Rays connected to their fan base while ensuring the safety and viability of their playing venue. The next steps will be determined based on the analyses of the stadium’s damage and the progress of repairs being made to Tropicana Field.
Overall, the devastation caused by Hurricane Milton at Tropicana Field has left the Tampa Bay Rays in a challenging position as they navigate the uncertainty of their home field for the upcoming 2025 season. With potential options for alternate stadiums being considered and repair efforts underway at their damaged stadium, the Rays and MLB are working to find a solution that allows the team to continue playing while also prioritizing the safety and logistical considerations of playing in a post-hurricane environment.
